Feed-table for rolling-mills



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FEED TABLE FOR ROLLING MILLS.

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H. AKEN. FEED TABLE-FOR ROLLING MILLS.

Patented Nov. 4, 189-0.

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FEED TABLE PQR ROLLING MILLS. No. 439,925. Patented Nov. 4, 1890;

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H. AIKEN. EEED TABLE EOE ROLLING MILLS.

No. 439,925. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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No. 439,925. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY AIKEN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FEED-TABLE FOR ROLLING-MILLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,925, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed July 16, 1890. Serial Nol 358,923. (No model.)

.To all", whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, HENRY AIKEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain newand useful Improvements in Feed- Tables for Rolling-Mills, of which improvements the following is a specication.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in feed-tables for rolling-mill plants.

According to the present practice in the manufacture of structural shapes, rails, plate metal, dac., a large ingot is first broken down in one pair or stand of rolls, and then transferred to one, two, or more pairs or stands of rolls for the finishing operation. The breaking-down and finishing rolls are usually of the vthree-high type, and a feed-table is employed on each side of each pair or stand of rolls for feeding the bloom back and forth into the rolls. As in the three-high type of mill the bloom or ingot is placed on dierent levels, first for the forward pass and then for the back pass, it is necessary that the feed-table on both sides of the rolls should be capable of vertical adjustment, and as the breaking down and finishing operations are eected in different stands of rolls, these tables are made laterally adjustable from one stand of rolls to another. For vertical adjustment it is customary to provide a pivotal bearing for the outer end of each table, the inner end being raised and lowered by suitable mechanism. For purposes of lateral adjustment the feed-table proper, with its supporting and operating mechanism, is mounted upon a carriage provided with wheels traversing rails laid parallel with the axes of the rolls. This mechanism, while applicable in a great many places, is not only costly as regards its erection in the first instance, but also as regards maintenance, and, further, it is not readily applicable where the finishing is effected by two, three, or more stands of rolls.

This invention has for its object such an arrangement and mounting of the feed-tables as will not only permit of the ready and easy use of as large a number of pairs of :rolls as may be desired, but will also lessen the first cost and subsequent maintenance, and will also reduce the number of hands required to run the mill.

In general terms, the invention consists in lthe construction and combination of mechanical devices and elements, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a plan View of a rolling-mill plant embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view ot a modiiication thereof. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one of the feed-tables and its operating mechanism. Fig. et is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of another modification of my improvement, and Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of themill shown in Fig. 5.

Thebreaking-down rolls l and the finishingrolls 2-and 3 are constructed and erected in accordance with the rules well known in the art, dependent upon the purpose for which they are to be used-1l. e., for the manufacture merchantable forms. As shown in the drawings, the rolls of the several stands are coupled together, so as to be driven by a single engine, although, if desired, each stand of rolls may be driven independently of the others.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. l, where' in a breaking-down and two or more finishing stands of rolls are employed, a crane 4, preferably of the hydraulic type, is located a little to one side of theline of feed ot the breaking-down rolls. The jib 5 of said crane, as also those of the other cranes, hereinafter referred to, is so connected to the piston ofthe lifting-cylinder as to be capable of being lowered to or approximately to the Hoor-level, as shown in Figs. 3 and i, or to such a point that the feed-table 6 on said jib can be lowered to or a little below the lowest pass of the rolls l. On these j ibs are arranged platforms, on which are secured the feed-tables. This table 6 consists of side pieces, in which are formed bearings for any desired number of feed-rollers 7, said feed-rollers being provided on one end with projecting journals, on

which arekeyed beveled gear-Wheels S,

of structural shapes, rails, plates, or other 'the pist-on of the cylinder.

adapted to intermesh with corresponding gear-wheels on acounter-shaft 9, arranged in suitable bearings parallel with the feed-table. This counter-shaft is driven through suitable interposed gearings by engines 10, arranged on the platform, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. On the platform of the crane is also located a fluid-pressure cylinder 11 for operating the go-devil 12, employedfor shifting the ingot or article being manufactured laterally of the table, as required. As shown in Fig. 1, only a part of the feed-rollers are driven directly from the counter-shaft 9, the remaining rollers being rotatedby a train of gearing 13, arranged along the opposite side of the table and operated by the driven rollers.

A crane 4, with feed-table and other operating mechanism, as hereinbefore described, is arranged in a corresponding position relative to the finishing-rolls 3 as the crane 4 to the rolls l, but on the opposite side of the mill, as shown in Fig. l.

The feed-tables 6 6c are only capable of vertical adjustment for the purpose of feeding the ingot into one pass of said stands of rolls and receiving it from the other pass. In order to provide a receiving and feeding table for the opposite side of each of said stands of rolls and for transferring the ingot from the breaking-down rolls 1 to the rolls 2, feeding it to and fro through said rolls 2, and then transferring it to the rolls 3, cranes 4 and 4b, with feed-tables and other operating mechanisms similar in all respects to that hereinbefore described, are arranged, respectively, midway between the lines of feed of the rolls 1 and 2 and 2 and 3, but on opposite sides of the train, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the feedtable 6a may be shifted into linawith the rolls 1 when the ingot is being reduced therein, as represented in dotted lines, and then swung into line with the rolls 2, having the ingot in position therein. While the rolls 2 are in operation on the article, the crane 4b, with its feed-table 6, is swung into line with the rolls .2, as indicated in dotted lines, and after reduction has been effected by the rolls 2 the crane 4" and its table, with the article resting thereon, are rotated into line with the rolls 3. In order to effect the desired rotation of the cranes 4aM and 4b, as above described, a fluidpressure cylinder 14 is arranged in suitable proximity to each crane, and a rack 15, intermeshing with a gear-wheel16 on the lower end of the mast of the crane, is attached to The valves controlling the Vertical movements of the tables 6 6c, the Vertical and horizontal movements of the tables 6a and 6b, and the operation of the feed-rollers and go-devils are arranged so as to be accessible from the platform of each crane.

In operating the plant shown in Fig. l the heated ingotisplacedupon thefeed-table 6,and the latter adjusted vertically to either the upper or lower pass, dependent upon the direction of rotation of the rolls 1. The table 6a 1s swung around into line with the rolls l, and the feed- .rollers of both tables are rotated in the direction necessary to move the ingot between the roll and to carry it along on the opposite side of the rolls. Both tables are then adj usted to the proper height for the back pass and the feed-rollers reversed, so as to feed the ingot back through the breaking-down rolls. Both tables are again adjusted for the forward pass, their feed-rollers reversed and the ingot again fed through the breaking-down rolls. This operation is continued until the ingot has been sufficiently reduced to be transferred to the finishing-rolls. The operator then raises the feed-table 6' by admitting {luid-pressure into the cylinder of the crane and swings the table around until in line with the stand of rolls 2 by admitting fluidpressure into the cylinder 14, employed for rotating the crane. rlhe table 6b is also shifted into line with the rolls 2 and both tables to the proper height for the first or forward pass, when the above-described operation of rolling is repeated. After the reduction by the rolls 2 has been effected the table 6b, with the ingot or partially-rolled beam or plate resting thereon, is swung around into line with the rolls 3, and the tables 6b and 6c being adjusted to the proper height the operations hereinbefore described are repeated. While reduction in the rolls 3 is being effected the table 6u can be swung into line with the rolls 1, and an ingot can be broken down during the finishing of the preceding ingot, and as soon'as this finishing operation is completed the table 6b can be swung into line with the rolls 2, so as to be in readiness for the second ingot, which, as hereinbefore described, is carried to the rolls and fed there- .into by the table 6. In lieu of making two of the feed-tables stationary as against movement from one stand of rolls to the next, as shown in Fig. 1, all of the tables maybe made movable from one stand of rolls to the next, as shown in Fig. 2, the cranes for moving the tables being located on a line at right angles to the aXes of the rolls and midway between two adjacent stands of rolls. When three or more stands of rolls are employed, it may be desirable to transfer the ingot from the breaking-down rolls to the third or fourth stand of rolls, or from any one of the stand of rolls to one or the other of the transfer-tables 17 or 17 a, leading to some other part of the mill, in which case the several feed-tables are swung around into line with each other, as shown in Fig. 2. When in line with each other, the feedrollers of the several tables are rotated in the proper direction., thereby carrying the ingot along until it rests upon the table 6e, if it be desired to reduce it in the third or fourth stand of rolls; or the ingot may be moved along onto one of the transfer-tables.

It will be readily understood that as the IOO feed-tables can be swung horizontally to any desired angle to the line of rolls it is immaterial as to the angle at which the transfertables are arranged to said rolls, it only being necessary that the ends of the transfer-table adjacent to the rolls should be sufficiently near the arc of the circle described by the ends of the feed-tables to permit the ingot to pass easily from the feed to the transfer tables, or vice versa.

If desired, the feed-tables on each side of the rolls may be made in two sections, as shown in Fig. 5, in which case the sections 18, adjacent to the rolls, have their outer ends pivoted to a stationary support or bed 19 and their inner ends connected by a pitman 2O to thecrank-arms 21 of rock-shafts 22. On the shafts are keyed gear-wheels 23, intermeshing with racks 24, formed on a reciprocating bar 25, which is attached at one end to the piston-rod 26 of a fluid-pressure cylinder 27. In order to prevent scale and dirt from getting into the teeth of the wheel and rack, the latter is covered by an angular tube 28, as shown in Fig. 6.

The outer sections 6 of the feed-tables are supported, in the manner hereinbefore described, upon cranes 4, and are employed in transferring the ingot from the section 18 of one feed-table to that of another, and also from prolongations of the feed-tables, during the rolling operations.

The feed-rollers 7 of the sections 18 are driven by a single engine through the medium of suitably-arranged counter-shafting, as shown in Fig. 9.

By reference to Fig. 6 it will be observed that the throw of the crank-arms 2O is so adjusted relative to the vertical movement of the feed-tables that said crank-arms will pass through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees, the opposite limits of their movement being in a vertical plane passing through the crank-shaft. By this arrangement the table is started in its upward or downward movement at a low speed, such speed gradually accelerating until the table has accomplished half its movement, when the speed gradually diminishes. By this proportion of the speed all liability of throwing the ingot off the table, as frequently happens in the construction heretofore in use, where a bell-crank is employed and the table is started and stopped during its highest movement, is avoided.

It is preferred when employing a feed-table arranged as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to relieve the mechanism for raising and lowering the sections 18 of the weight thereof, and to do this vertical fluid-pressure cylinders 29 are arranged under said sections, the pistons of the cylinders 29 being connected to the sections, as shown in Fig. 6, and the cylinders connected to accumulators, wherein sufficient pressure is maintained to at least balance the weight of the sections 18.

It is a characteristic of this invention that by arranging the feed-table on a vertically-arranged pivotal `support such table can be swung in a horizontal plane to any desired angle to the axes of the reducing-rolls, and the feed-rollers being driven the article resting therein can be directed to any part ofthe plant. i

VVhile I have described my invention in connection with a rollin g-mill plant, it will be be readily understood that my improved table can be used in connection with hammers or other metal-reducin g devices, and hence the term rolls is used generically herein and is intended to include thereunder other known mechanical equivalents for reducing metal.

I claim herein as my invention- Y Y 1. In a rolling-mill plant, the combination of two, three, or more stands of rolls, one or more feed-tables therefor, and a crane for transferring the table from one stand of rolls to another, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rolling-mill plant, the combination of a three-high mill, a feed-table provided with driven feed-rollers, mechanism for driving the rollers, and a crane-for raising and lowering the feed-table and driving mechanism, substantially as set forth.

3. In a rolling-mill plant, the combination of a stand of rolls and a feed-table movable from a plane at right angles to axes of the rolls into aplane parallel with such axes, substantially as setforth.

4. In a rolling-mill plant, the combination of rolls, a feed-table provided with driven rollers, mechanism for driving said feed-rollers, and mechanism for transferring the feedtable androller-driving mechanism from a position at right angles to the axes of the rolls to a plane parallel with theaXes of such rolls, substantially as set forth.

5. In a rolling-mill plant, the combination of two, three, or more stands of rolls, feed-table provided with driven rollers arranged on opposite sides of each stand of rolls and stationary as against lateral movements, auxiliary feed-tables, and cranes for transferring the auxiliary table from the rear of one of the main feed-tables to a position in line with one of the other main feed-tables, substantially as set forth.

6. In a rolling-mill plant, the combination of a stand of rolls, a feed-table having a pivotal support at its outer end, ashaft provided with crank-arms connected to the inner end of the table, the radial length of the crankarms being equal to half the desired vertical movement of the table, substantially as set forth.

7. In a rolling-mill plant, the combination of a stand of rolls, a feed-table having a pivotal support at its outer end, and mechanism for raising and lowering said table, constructed to start the table with a gradually accelerating speed and stop with a gradually decreasing speed, substantially as set forth.

8. In a rolling-mill plant, the combination IOC IIO

of a stand of rolls, a'feed-table, and a pivotal support therefor, whereby said table may be swung to any desired angle to the axes ofthe rolls, substantially as set forth.

9. In a rolling-mill plant, the combination of a stand of rolls, a feed-table, and a vertically adjusted pivotal support therefor, whereby said table may be raised or lowered and swung to any desired angle to the axes of the rolls, substantially as set forth. 1o

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY AIKEN.

Witnesses:

R. H. WHITTLESEY, DARWIN S. WoLooTT. 

